Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

The Alabama high school football playoffs begin Friday with only one Etowah County team hosting a first-round game.

Class 5A Southside (10-0) is the lone county team playing at home Friday night when the Panthers host Wenonah (5-5) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Teams that finish first or second in their respective regions host first-round games. None of the 10 teams in Etowah County finished runner-up in a region, and Southside was the only team to win a region championship.

Interim coach Ron Daugherty and the Panthers will look to continue a history-making season with a first-round victory over the Dragons. Before anyone takes anything for granted, let me stress Wenonah isn’t an average .500 fourth seed team playing a top seed. The Dragons’ defense is allowing an average of 8.7 points per game and hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game. Wenonah’s offense averages only 15.3 per game, and in six games this season, it scored 8 points or less.

It won’t be an easy game if Wenonah’s defense is as stout as it’s been. Still, I think Southside — powered by Dantley Coker’s legs on offense behind Tyler Carr’s physical strength on the line as well as Hunter Armstrong’s ability to find the ball on defense — will do enough to continue its dream season. Southside 21, Wenonah 14.

Similar to Southside, Gadsden City will begin the playoffs having made the postseason under the direction of a new coach — in the Titans’ case, Matt Scott.

Gadsden City (5-5), the third seed from 6A, Region 7, travels to play Bessemer City (9-1), the second seed out of Region 5. The Purple Tigers’ only loss was to top-ranked Hoover. I think that alone may be a sign of a tough night for the Titans. Bessemer City 35, Gadsden City 21.

Three other Etowah County teams play on the road in the first round with Gaston at Lanett, Glencoe at Hanceville and Etowah at Pleasant Grove. Gaston’s had a great turnaround from a winless 2012 with the return of coach Swane Morris, but the Bulldogs’ run ends with a 42-21 loss. Glencoe is playing well right now and wins 28-24, while Etowah comes up short of giving first-year coach Drew Noles a playoff win as the Blue Devils fall 24-21.

<p class="bold allcaps">COMMENTARY</p>
<p>The Alabama high school football playoffs begin Friday with only one Etowah County team hosting a first-round game.</p><p>Class 5A Southside (10-0) is the lone county team playing at home Friday night when the Panthers host Wenonah (5-5) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.</p><p>Teams that finish first or second in their respective regions host first-round games. None of the 10 teams in Etowah County finished runner-up in a region, and Southside was the only team to win a region championship.</p><p>Interim coach Ron Daugherty and the Panthers will look to continue a history-making season with a first-round victory over the Dragons. Before anyone takes anything for granted, let me stress Wenonah isn't an average .500 fourth seed team playing a top seed. The Dragons' defense is allowing an average of 8.7 points per game and hasn't allowed more than 14 points in any game. Wenonah's offense averages only 15.3 per game, and in six games this season, it scored 8 points or less.</p><p>It won't be an easy game if Wenonah's defense is as stout as it's been. Still, I think Southside — powered by Dantley Coker's legs on offense behind Tyler Carr's physical strength on the line as well as Hunter Armstrong's ability to find the ball on defense — will do enough to continue its dream season. Southside 21, Wenonah 14.</p><p>Similar to Southside, Gadsden City will begin the playoffs having made the postseason under the direction of a new coach — in the Titans' case, Matt Scott.</p><p>Gadsden City (5-5), the third seed from 6A, Region 7, travels to play Bessemer City (9-1), the second seed out of Region 5. The Purple Tigers' only loss was to top-ranked Hoover. I think that alone may be a sign of a tough night for the Titans. Bessemer City 35, Gadsden City 21.</p><p>Three other Etowah County teams play on the road in the first round with Gaston at Lanett, Glencoe at Hanceville and Etowah at Pleasant Grove. Gaston's had a great turnaround from a winless 2012 with the return of coach Swane Morris, but the Bulldogs' run ends with a 42-21 loss. Glencoe is playing well right now and wins 28-24, while Etowah comes up short of giving first-year coach Drew Noles a playoff win as the Blue Devils fall 24-21.</p><p>In other first-round playoff games, Hubbertville 31, Collinsville 28; Pickens County 42, Gaylesville 7; Ragland 35, Hackleburg 14; Montgomery Academy 18, Sand Rock 14; Fyffe 28, Isabella 7; Piedmont 41, Winfield 10; Lauderdale County 31, Geraldine 28; Colbert County 28, Plainview 14; Oneonta 38, West Limestone 14; McAdory 31, Fort Payne 28.</p><p><i>Times Sports Editor Kim Craft can be reached at kim.craft@gadsdentimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @GT_KimCraft.</i></p>